Two elk bulls fighting to decide who will mate. Normally these fights last a minute or so, sometimes seconds. But in this case they went on for several minutes, both getting tired and foaming at their mouth. Finally it was over, the one on the left was the challenger and in the end the loser of this battle.
Castle Mtn
More fall colours seen while driving through Banff National Park, I take this road often, so when I was headed out I had the gear I needed to get the picture. Pulled off the road and stepped out and took the picture. Knowing the area goes a long way getting the picture I want.
Northern Lights
Last week Wednesday night the bright Northern Lights covered much of the sky for a short period of time. As soon as I stepped outside, the lights were clearly visible in town, even with the Banff street lights. I decided that was the night I was going to take pictures of the Northern Light from town. Went to few location including next to the Bow River. The brightness from the town lights made it difficult getting the reflection on the water of the lightsbut I was able to for some of the stars, including the big dipper. It was a night losing some sleep over.
Fall Colours
The last few weeks I have been going around taking pictures of fall colours, front and in the back country. I have been going on hikes to get the pictures, for these two pictures I just had to make a stop along the road. In both cases I knew where I wanted to take the pictures, I was just waiting for the right moment.
Mountain Goats
When returning from Jasper we came across three mountain goats along the road. They were busy licking minerals and eating grass. All together there were three goats, two adults and a one year old. In about two months they will be high up on the mountain, where they will spend their winter.
Floe Lake
Around this time all hikes for me have to do with fall colours, here in the mountains, it's all about the golden yellow colour of the larch tree needles. We had decided to head for Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park. The vegetation along the trail was showing their beautiful fall colours, we kept our fingers crossed that the clouds we were seeing above the lake from our approach would move on. It was not meant to be, light rain was falling at the lake, after locating shelter we put on layers and ate. Soon joined by another hiker, we sat and talked as her dog Mena took turns licking our faces as the rain fell around us. I decided I was not leaving before getting one good picture of the larch, the lake and the famous limestone rockwall, few minutes before we headed back to the trail head, I had the picture.
Elk
This young bull elk making the moves on this female during the rut season. Head held high, the tongue sticking out while approaching the cow when trying to attract her during the mating season.
Mount Temple
It has been few years since I was hiking in Paradise Valley. Just before the sunrise I started the hike, middle of September is a great time to do the hike, the beautiful views have a added bonus, fall colours from the larch trees. In few hours I was toward the back of the valley, I had my camera ready when the sun started to come over Mount Temple. I quickly got the pictures and then started to explore again.
Johnston Canyon
I paid a visit to the Johnston Canyon for a walk and to check on few things. It was evening, lot less crowded then middle of the day. These day you have to go there first thing in the morning, end of the day or during cold weather to find the popular Johnston Canyon quite. Before I left, I took few long exposures at the lower water falls.
Yellow-rumped Warbler and Brown-headed Cowbird
Why is this adult Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding a juvinile Brown-headed Cowbird that is twice its size. Well, the cowbird does not build its own nest, instead it lays eggs in the other bird nests. Where the cowbird egg will hatch faster than that of the host species, giving the cowbird a head start getting the food from its host parent. As well the cowbird will develop faster and sometimes push out the eggs or the young nestlings or just smother them at the bottom of the nest. The host parent does know any better and ends up raising a Brown-headed Cowbird.
Sunwapta Falls
Water falls attract lot of people and I'm one of them. I like to watch them and as well figure out how I will be taking their picture. For this Sunwapta Falls, a place I have to travel for few hours to get to, I took the picture in a similar way as the last time. I think I have to spend little more time to get different looks. Hopefully the next time I'm out there.
Moose
I was on my way to a hike when I came across a moose with two calves. They were busy eating around willow shrubs. I had few trees and shrubs between us, moving side to side to get a clear pictures of the three. I came close but never did get a picture of all three in the open, as individuals, this one of one of the calf was the best one.
Elk
The elk rut season is full on, bugling can head throughout the valley. This male was busy calling out after taking his aggression out on the vegetation. The larger stronger males's bugling will attract the females who are interested in mating with this male. As well keep males away, except for those who feel they can challenge the bugling male.
The Sun
With the heavy smoke passing through Banff last week, the place had a surreal look, even more so when looking at the moon or the sun. For few mornings while making my way to work I could look straight at the sun as it came over Tunnel Mtn. Most of the sun's light intensity was being blocked by the smoke, that was coming from all those crazy fires taking place in British Columbia. The sun with its sun spots, filtered through smoke.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America, roughly the size of a crow. They have an amazing zany call, inspiring the cartoon character Woody the Woodpecker. If you come across rounded rectangle holes near the bottom of the trees, then this woodpecker has be there, looking for wood ants. Here in the mountains they can be spotted year around.
Least Chipmunk
This least chipmunk was keeping busy, climbing up the sunflower stem to get at the seeds. They like other mammals who hibernate over the winter, are busy putting on the weight to survive the winter.
Grizzly
Over the summer I got to see this big guy few times, the last time was when he visited me, well sort of. I was leaving town early in the morning when I spotted him sniffing for two bears that were in the area hours before. Just the way he was moving you can tell he was on their trail, going back and forth following their every step. Grizzly's sense of smell is several times better then that of a bloodhound, they use it to track food and in this case each other. They can smell a carcass upwind from over a kilometer away and even food located in a sealed can. But in this case he was tracking two grizzlies. In this picture it looks as if he was smiling, nothing of the sort, it was all business. As soon he got the scent he was off into the bushes, I found out later the direction he headed, two grizzlies were spotted in that area.
Sun
The heavy smoke allowed me to take this picture of the sun rising over Tunnel Mountain this morning. The last few days the sky has been filled with heavy forest fire smoke from the fires in B.C.. The way it's going, we might have to wait until it snows before the fire season will be over.
Milky Water
Playing with water again behind the Bow Lake this time. Trying different long exposure at different angles to get a picture I like.
Herbert Lake
So many times this summer it felt and looked as if rain was going to fall, the clouds moved on with not even a rain drop. For this picture I was at Herbert Lake, liking the clouds, got the camera out quickly. The water was calm, but for how long, you have to take advantage of the situation before the sky changes and before the wind picks up.
